Al-Jassas, Humaidi and Bawazer impressed in the Saudi Arabian National Championships

The Saudi Arabian National Boxing Championships was held for their elite male boxers in Al-Qasim City where the competition was taking place within three days. Nine champions have been crowned and among them Sajad Ali Al-Jassas, Samer Humaidi, Nasser Talal Bawazer, Salem Ahmed Faqihi and Ahmed Jaber Al-Faifi proved their skills are developed significantly.
The Saudi Arabians returned to the international tournaments at the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Puerto Princesa last August and the country has got strong strategic plans to develop our sport. The competition was preparation event for the upcoming international elite competitions and the main goal of the year, the Asian Games which will be held in Jakarta in August.
The first gold medal was achieved by Al Taraji’s Murtadha Al-Sheikh who was too strong for Al-Raied’s Rayan Al-Soudir in the final of the light flyweight (49kg). Oqaz’s Faris Ayed Al-Moutaini was the titleholder of the flyweight (52kg) in the Saudi Arabian National Championships and he was able to remain on the top following his victory over Sami Soubaie of Al-Raied.
Al Taraji’s Sajad Ali Al-Jassas won the Gulf Countries Tournament in Riyadh two years ago and since then he was unstoppable in the Saudi Arabian national events. The 20-year-old bantamweight (56kg) boxer delivered one of the best performances in Al-Qasim City where he defeated Abdulrahman Touban in the final of the national event.
Oqaz’s Samer Humaidi competed in the Amman 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and several other international events. The 28-year-old lightweight (60kg) boxer was in different level than Al Taraji’s Abdulla Al-Mohamed in the final and increased his number of national titles.
Oqaz’s Ahmed Manshi is a new face in Saudi Arabia’s boxing life but he was able to beat Damak’s Talal Ahmed Walies in the final of the light welterweight (64kg) achieving his first national title. Salem Ahmed Faqihi competed in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games and three editions of the Gulf Countries Tournament which international experiences paid off in the final of the middleweight (75kg) against Khalid Al-Hazli of Makka.
Oqaz’s fourth gold medal was achieved by Ahmed Jaber Al-Faifi who took part already in the Baku 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships and claimed silver medal in the 2016 Gulf Countries Tournament. The light heavyweight (81kg) veteran defeated Mohamed Ayesh Al-Arishi in the final and defended his throne.
Makka’s Ahmad Al-Subhi impressed in the final of the heavyweight (91kg) where he launched powerful punches against Riyadh’s Ali Sayed Al-Bishi and celebrated his title after the final gong. Nasser Talal Bawazer was named as the Best Boxer of the 2017 Saudi Arabian National Championships and the Makka-based boxer secured his next title in Al-Qasim City following his victory over veteran Turki Al-Subyani.

List of the winners in the Saudi Arabian National Championships
49kg: Murtadha Al-Sheikh
52kg: Faris Ayed Al-Moutaini
56kg: Sajad Ali Al-Jassas
60kg: Samer Humaidi
64kg: Ahmed Manshi
75kg: Salem Ahmed Faqihi
81kg: Ahmed Jaber Al-Faifi
91kg: Ahmad Al-Subhi
+91kg: Nasser Talal Bawazer